The God of Jacob. 2
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As he journeys toward the land of Canaan memory revives and conscience is at work. He thinks of the brother he has wronged and is afraid. You may say that was quite natural. True, had Jacob been an unbeliever. But God had promised to be with him and bring him back again into the land of his fathers, and He was well able to deal with Esau. But again we see that God was not in his thoughts. He has more confidence in his own wisdom and devices—than in divine aid. The message which he sent to Esau was utterly beneath the dignity of a child of God: such fawning phrases as "my master Esau" and "your servant Jacob" tell their own sad tale.
But Jacob's hopes are disappointed. No friendly greeting comes from Esau; on the contrary, there are indications that he has designs upon his brother's life. Esau was coming to meet Jacob, and with him four hundred men!
Jacob is now thoroughly afraid: "Jacob was terrified at the news. He divided his household, along with the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps. He thought—If Esau attacks one group, perhaps the other can escape." (vv. 7,8) Instead of casting himself upon the Lord, he at once begins to plan and scheme. Having completed his plans, he then turns unto God and supplicates His aid. Alas! how true to human nature. Scarcely had he risen from his knees, than once more he leans upon the arm of flesh, Esau's host drove out of his mind "the host of God." Having divided his party and possessions into two companies, so that in case one was attacked and destroyed the other might escape, and thus a part at least be spared, Jacob then prepares and sends on ahead a costly present for Esau, that by this means his brother's wrath might be appeased. (vv. 13-20) Thus instead of allowing God to manage Esau, Jacob by his slavish cringing, seeks to buy his brother's favor. Truly, "The fear of man brings a snare."
But the above only provides a dark background—upon which may shine forth the riches of divine grace! In spite of all his unbelief, lack of confidence in God, and trust in himself; Jehovah once more appears to His servant, this time in the form of a man who wrestled with Jacob all night (Genesis 32:24-30). But even so, Jacob has still to learn that "Whoever puts his trust in the Lord shall be safe." The actual meeting with Esau still had to be faced, and when the crisis is reached the old Jacob once more came to the fore. As Esau approached him, seven times Jacob bowed himself to the ground (33:3). What an unfitting position to take, for one occupying the relationship to God which Jacob enjoyed. The excessive deference here shown to the brother he had wronged, betokened to servile fear—evidently designed to suggest that he was still prepared to acknowledge Esau's superiority.
The generous way in which Esau acted, put Jacob to shame. He showed himself quite friendly toward this brother—in fact anxious to help him. How often the children of God compare unfavorably with the children of the world! Esau suggests that the two companies unite, and that they journey together to the old home. Jacob meets this generous proposal in a very characteristic way, and by means of a plausible excuse, cleverly declined it. Fear still possessed him. He thinks that perhaps Esau's mood perhaps might change—and the old enmity might awaken. Jacob therefore suggests that Esau go on ahead, while he with his children and flocks come along more slowly in the rear. He promises to meet him at Seir. (33:14) But no sooner had Esau and his four hundred men departed, than Jacob deliberately journeys in the opposite direction, and went and settled in Succoth. Thus by his lying and treachery, once more Jacob dishonored the Lord. Moreover, Jacob did not content himself with temporary stay in Succoth; he built him a house there, evidently purposing to abide in that place. This act of his was not only a wrong done to Esau—but in defiance of God's plain command, "Return to the land of your fathers." (Genesis 31:3)
"Where sin abounded—grace did much more abound." The more unworthy the subject—the more is God's grace glorified. In spite of Jacob's waywardness and wickedness, in spite of his distrust and disobedience, in spite of his repeated failures—God still deals with him in mercy. "God appeared to Jacob once again when he arrived at Bethel after traveling from Paddan-aram. God blessed him and said, "Your name is no longer Jacob; you will now be called Israel." Then God said, "I am God Almighty. Multiply and fill the earth! Become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants! And I will pass on to you the land I gave to Abraham and Isaac. Yes, I will give it to you and your descendants." (Genesis 35:9-12) How incomparable is God's patience! How infinite is His forbearance! How matchless is His grace!
Jacob is a pattern case. Unless our eyes are dim, we can not help but see in the sad history of the old patriarch, a faithful description of our own characters. Our experience is very much like his. The evil heart of unbelief abides in us, and only too often regulates the life of the believer. Like Jacob, we are ever planning and scheming, and then asking God's blessing upon our devices. Like it was with Jacob, God has appeared to us again and again, cheered us with His promises, delivered us out of the hand of the enemy, guided us by His Spirit, protected us with His angels—yet we continue to grieve and dishonor Him. We are slow to learn. Fresh crises invariably result in fresh failures. But blessed be His name, Jacob's God is our God. He bears with us in infinite patience. He suffers our dullness with wondrous forbearance. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. he is with us to the end. Happy, thrice happy, they who can say, "The God of Jacob is our refuge!"
4. The God of Jacob is the God of Transforming POWER. "At evening time—it shall be light." The sunset of Jacob's life, reveals the triumph of God's mighty grace. In the closing scenes of his life, we see the spirit victorious over the flesh. Not only is it deeply interesting to study closely the last pages of the patriarch's biography—but they bring before us the marvelous transforming effects of God's power.
"And they left Egypt and returned to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan. "Joseph is still alive!" they told him. "And he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!" Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn't believe it. But when they had given him Joseph's messages, and when he saw the wagons loaded with the food sent by Joseph, his spirit revived. Then Jacob said, "It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I will go and see him before I die." (Genesis 45:25-28)
At first, the news that Joseph was alive seemed too good to be true—but the wagons he had sent to reassure his father convinced him; his spirit revived and he at once set out on the journey to Egypt. It is beautiful to note that the first thing recorded after the journey was begun was an act of worship on the part of the aged patriarch: "So Jacob set out for Egypt with all his possessions. And when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac." (46:1) Long years of discipline in the school of experience had at last taught him to put God first. Before he goes down to Egypt—he worships the God of his father Isaac! At once God met him, and said, "Jacob, Jacob!" Note the ready response (46:2), "Here I am." No need now to send an angel—Jacob had learned to recognize the voice of God himself.
Another scene brings out the remarkable change which divine grace wrought in Jacob's character. "Then Joseph brought his father, Jacob, and presented him to Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh." (Genesis 47:7) The aged and feeble patriarch is brought before the monarch of the mightiest empire in the world. And what dignity now marks Jacob! What a contrast to the day when he bowed himself seven times before Esau! There is no cringing and fawning here. Jacob takes the true place of a child of God. He was the son of the King of Kings, an ambassador of the Most High God. Brief is the record—yet how much the words suggest, "And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years." (v. 9) At last Jacob had learned that his home was not here, that he was but a stranger and sojourner on the earth. He sees now that his life is but a journey, with a starting-point and a goal—the starting point, conversion; the goal, heavenly glory!
"When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes—promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried." (Genesis 47:29, 30) Once more we see the evidences of the change which had been wrought in Jacob. This request of his not to be buried in Egypt but in Canaan, carries with it far more than appears on the surface. God had promised, many years before, to give Jacob and his seed the land of Canaan, and now the promise is "embraced." Jacob had never possessed the land, and now he is dying in a strange country. But he knows God's Word is true, and his faith evidently looks forward to resurrection. At last his besetting sin (unbelief) is laid aside and faith triumphs. This is confirmed by the words which immediately follow: "And Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff" (Genesis 47:31).
"By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff." (Hebrews 11:21) The account of this is found in Genesis 48. All through this chapter we see how God was now in all Jacob's thoughts, and how His promises are the stay of his heart. He recounts to Joseph, how God had appeared to him at Luz (v. 14) and how He had promised to give the land of Canaan to him and his seed for an everlasting possession. He spoke of God as the One who "fed me all my life long unto this day" (v. 15), and as the One "who redeemed me from all evil." Setting aside the inclinations of the flesh, and the will of man (Joseph's own desire), Jacob bows to God's will and by faith blesses Joseph's sons, setting "Ephraim before Manasseh." (v. 20) After blessing Joseph's sons, Jacob turns to their father and says, "I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers." (v. 21)
How unlikely was this! Joseph was now thoroughly settled and established in Egypt. No longer is Jacob walking by sight. Firm now was his confidence, and with an unshaken faith—he grasps the promises of God (that his seed shall inherit Canaan) and speaks out of a heart filled with a quiet assurance.
The last scene (Genesis 49) presents a fitting climax, and demonstrates the power of God's grace. The whole family is gathered about the dying patriarch, and one by one he blesses them. All through his earlier and mid life, Jacob was occupied solely with himself; but at the end he is occupied solely with others! In days gone by, he was mainly concerned with planning about things present—but now (see Genesis 49:1) he has thought for nothing but things future!
One word here is deeply instructive: "I have waited for your salvation, O Lord." (49:18) We saw at the beginning of his life, that "waiting" was something quite foreign to his nature: instead of waiting for God to secure for him the promised birthright, he sought to obtain it himself. But now the hardest lesson of all has been learned. Grace has taught him now to wait. Truly, "the path of the just is as the shining light—which shines more and more unto the perfect day"!
To sum up: God took Jacob as the one through whom he could best show forth His grace and power. What more suited for the display of His gracethan the chief of sinners! Whom shall He take up to exhibit His power but the one who by nature was the most intractable! And the God of Jacob is our refuge. He is the God of Sovereign election, the God of matchless grace, the God of infinite patience, the God of transforming power! This is the One "with whom we have to do." Those of us who have already "passed from death unto life" already know something of His wondrous grace and marvelous forbearance. May we experience more and more of His might transforming power!
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